5 months!

Lena has been home with us for 5 months now! She just celebrated her 14th birthday and it was funny because she didn't want to be called 14 until that day. We had her birthday party the Saturday before and she kept telling us she wasn't 14 yet. I think she just wants to feel like she's going to be with her family for a while and not growing up too fast. We bought new linens for her room that she picked out so it would be more "her" room and she didn't want to wait for anything. It's so amusing, because she hasn't had anything uniquely hers in so many years but she didn't want to wait 2 months for bedding so she picked something that she could have in a week.

However, I have to say that she is not greedy with anything either. With one of her gift cards, she bought me a necklace that says love and has 2 hearts. She spent half the gift card on me and I tried to refuse it and told her I wanted to spend it on her, but she said "no, mom" you buy me things too! She was so appreciative of everything, but did learn how to give "hints" of what she needed.

My mom is taking both girls to a "camp" Sunday afternoon through Tues. afternoon with a friend who has also been a long time missionary. It is designed to be a time of spirtual growth. Brianne has long been tuned in to God's moving in her life, but a personal relationship is something new for Lena. We are praying it will be a significant event in her life.

People ask me what grade level Lena is on and there's really no answer. She came here knowing only the alphabet and some of the sounds correct and some incorrect. Now, she's reading on about a 3rd/4th grade level (although pronunciation is interesting at times), writing on a 1st/2nd grade level and developing sentences and learning about parts of speech, antonyms, etc., and doing 6th grade math. That's alot of learning in a different language in 5 months (only 3 during the school year, but we've been doing 1-2 hours 3 x week in the summer too). We are very fortunate to be able to homeschool her and meet her needs at all those different levels. In the Ukraine, she was 5th grade across the board.

I am also thankful for Brianne's help in explaining things to her and to both Blake and Brianne for sharing all that they have with her. God has done a great work and it is amazing to watch life unfold from a perspective other than our own. It has allowed us to not be completely wrapped up in our own lives and needs. I am so thankful for that because it is easy to fall into that trap. We are looking forward to 4 more weeks of summer and a 20th anniversary vacation for Trent and I in Panama on a fishing trip. It's been a whirlwind year and a little breather will be so nice:)